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U.S. Sen. Scott Brown talks Springfield charity basketball gameSeveral hundred people packed the Dunbar Y Community Center in Springfield on Monday as notable politicians, including U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., from across the commonwealth came together with local basketball players and community members to support two of the city's charities in a basketball challenge.

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On Sunday, a day after Romney chose Ryan, the Wisconsin representative and chairman of the House Budget Committee, as his running mate, the Ryan budget plan already took on a central role in the debate.

The Path to Manhood mentoring program and the South End Community Center were the real winners of the charity basketball game, but in the end, the team led by Rev. Talbert Swan II defeated the opposition led by Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass.

It was a close game as neither team held a lead of more than a couple points.

Other politicos involved in the game included Congressman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, state Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, state Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, and Springfield City Councilors Melvin Edwards and Tom Ashe.

Brown's moves were solid as he glided across the court trying to stay on top of and one step ahead of Swan.

At one point on the game, Brown went down hard, falling on the floor. But he was quickly back up on his feet and sinking free throws after the foul. It was one of the many times the Red team, led by Swan, caught a foul call for targeting Brown as he approached the hoop.

In the fourth quarter with less than 4 minutes on the clock, Swan took a nasty headbutt, delivered accidentally by a player on Brown's gold team. With the blood flowing, he was walked off of the court and became the second man to leave the game due to injury.

The game ended with Swan's team ahead, 46-44, thanks to a 3-point shot at the buzzer.

The programs that got a boost thanks to ticket sales are the Path to Manhood male mentoring program and the South End Community Center, which was partially destroyed in the June 2011 tornado that ripped though the state.

Path to Manhood places at-risk black youth with a mentor in the community who provides advice and assistance both personally and through education to increase their chances of attaining a positive future and avoiding the pitfalls of gangs and drugs.